Pundits: Gaza War Hiding Anti-Semitism — or Muslim Violence Elsewhere

Outrage over the violence in Gaza is really a mask for anti-Semitism, but failure of the world to apply condemnation to Muslim violence elsewhere marks a moral double standard that elevates one nation but diminishes real issues in others, two contrasting op-ed pieces published by The Wall Street Journal assert.

Journalist and author Andrew Nagorski calls out the world leaders for their lack of interest in the rise up against Jews, while columnist Bret Stephens notes that Israel gets plenty of sympathy in its fight with Palestine, but other nations like Pakistan, Syria, and Libya, which are suffering at the hands of Muslim radicals, have been largely overlooked in the media saturation over Gaza.

"What we are witnessing today in the surge of poisonous anti-Semitism around the world, particularly in Europe, would have delighted Hitler and his Nazi followers," notes Nagorski, who says such hate is "cloaked in the garb of humanitarian concern for the Palestinian people."

"We tend to forget that Hitler and his followers had moments when they professed a desire for peace and claimed that warnings about threats to Jews were exaggerated. The Nazis assured foreign diplomats that attacks on Jews in the early 1930s were isolated incidents, blaming them on overzealous supporters.

"Much of the world took those naked lies seriously — and did nothing," wrote Nagorski, adding that more people and nations around the world must speak out lest history repeats itself.

"European leaders should directly and forcefully address the radicals — along with those of the left or right who march beside them — in immigrant communities where anti-Semitism has flared. Preventive policing measures should be stepped up, with any violent behavior — such as the torching of buildings and cars, as occurred in France last month — bringing a stronger police response than we have seen so far," he stated.

Nagorski writes that while President Barack Obama has let it be known that he is not pleased with the way Israel has handled itself in the conflict, he "has not prominently addressed the subject of rising anti-Semitism in Europe, much less its pervasiveness in the Muslim world.

"For that matter, he also has had remarkably little to say about the escalating attacks on Christians in Africa and the Middle East," he said.

Added Nagorski: "Words matter, and the lack of words can matter even more — as was chillingly evident in the 1930s. It is time to speak loudly and clearly."

While concerns over Israel's battle with Gaza rages, Stephens cites mere "concern" from world leaders over similar conflicts where the death toll rises and yet the global outrage remains muted. He ponders why Israel remains special as other cultures get little ink, according to the Journal.

"Since the war in Gaza began nearly a month ago, I have been bombarded with indignant letters and tweets calling me a 'racist' for my views and asking whether I would like to live in Gaza," Stephens writes.

"My answer to the second point is that I would no more want to live under Hamas than I would under any other fanatical dictatorship that starts gratuitous wars, uses civilians as human shields, punishes political opposition with death, and sends others to die while its leaders hide beneath hospital sheets."

He adds: "As for racism, people often point out how peculiar it is that the Jewish state seems to arouse a level of condemnation that never seems to apply equally elsewhere. But perhaps the real racism is the indifference to Muslim suffering around the world when the person dropping the bomb or pulling the trigger is another Muslim. A world that makes a fetish of the alleged guilt of Israel is also a world that holds too much Muslim life cheap."

Outrage over the violence in Gaza is really a mask for anti-Semitism, but failure of the world to apply condemnation to Muslim violence elsewhere marks a moral double standard that elevates one nation but diminishes real issues in others, two opinion pieces argue.